Overview & Reviews
Many Americans have a real need for vehicles big enough to lug Joe Six-pack, his wife, their kids and their kids' teammates on the hockey squad. A minivan would seem like an obvious choice, but these people haulers are anathema for many parents. To fill this need, manufacturers have come up with large crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse that offer the best of both worlds: a minivan's passenger and cargo capacity along with an SUV's sheet metal.
The eight-passenger Traverse shares its platform with two other current GM vehicles -- the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia -- but it distinguishes itself by being the least expensive of the bunch. This Chevy isn't the quickest or most refined pick in the larger crossover segment, but it excels when it comes to roominess and ride quality. If these attributes are important to you, the Chevrolet Traverse may be an ideal companion.
Current Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse is a full-size crossover SUV that comes in three main trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ. Base LS models are pretty nicely equipped, with OnStar telematics, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and an audio system with a USB input and satellite radio. The LT trim is actually comprised of two sub-trims (LT1 and LT2) that add more amenities such as a power liftgate, triple-zone climate control and the MyLink infotainment interface. Springing for the LTZ adds upgrades like 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. Options include dual sunroofs, navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 wedded to a six-speed automatic with manual shift control. LS and LT trims make 281 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The LTZ features a dual-outlet exhaust that boosts output to 288 hp and 270 lb-ft. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models are available.
Inside, the Traverse features a stylish two-tone color scheme with, depending on the trim, wood-tone and metallic accents. Seating in the first two rows is comfy, and the split-folding third row -- which tends to be pitifully cramped in many crossovers -- is easy to access and spacious enough for adults. We have a few minor quibbles, such as the compromised rearward visibility. But overall we find this Chevrolet to be a strong choice for those seeking a truly roomy hauler.
Used Chevrolet Traverse Models
The Chevrolet Traverse debuted for the 2009 model year. Not much changed for the next few years. These 2009-'12 models will lack some of the updates introduced for 2013, however. These changes included an exterior styling refresh, upgraded cabin materials and the new MyLink electronics interface.
User Reviews:
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A few concerns - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By DParler - August 22 - 10:39 pmI bought this SUV over a Toyota Highlander because I could negotiate a better price & I had $3500 worth of GM card points to further reduce the price. I also favored this vehicle over the Highlander because (1) it seats 8, not 7 (2) it has greater cargo room, ESPECIALLY when the rear seat is up and (3) the seats split 60/40 so that one can go on vacation, comfortably seat 5, & still have room for luggage. As an owner, I have my concerns & disappointments. One of them is MPG consistently around 15.5 mpg. My wifes Sienna van gets 20 mpg under same conditions. You need to evaluate for yourself these "awkward features" ( 1) headrests (2)seat comfort & adjust ability (3) rear visibility.
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What Minivan??? - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By RipNGo - August 19 - 8:29 amI had been a Minivan Mom for 7 years. I have three kids and each with two sports/activities. Loved my minivan but wanted something different. I looked at the Mazda Cx-9, Toyota Highlander, and the Honda Pilot. NOTHING compared with the Traverse!! It fits eight passengers with comfort, It is easy to drive (although I was somewhat intimidated at first), and handles like a car and much better than my Minivan. Attn: Soccer Moms out there looking to move into a Crossover. This is the SUV. Kids love it. PS I saved money by getting the LT1 model and had the dealership wrap the seats in leather and install the DVD. Came out beautiful!!!!
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gas guzzler - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By larry - August 9 - 5:08 pmVehicles is easy and fun to drive. Easy to park and get in and out of. I only wish I had listened to some other reviews on the bad gas mileage. I was expecting to get at least 15 miles a gallon since it is rated to get 17 in the city. But I am so dissapointed I that I get 12-13 mpg in the city. I see others say that they get great gas mileage, and others say they are getting very bad mileage like me. So maybe I got stuck with one of the bad ones: (
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Satisfied with Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By Satisfied - August 3 - 6:41 pmI bought my Traverse in November of 08. Extremely happy with the car at first but after 6 months you begin to realize the faults and what makes it a Chevrolet. I love the versatility of the car and love the way it drives. At first I really enjoyed the interior but after you get to know it, you realize there is a lot of plastic used in the car. Paying full price for the LTZ, it would be nice to have leather in places where there is plastic.
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don not buy for gas mileage - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By Sanny - June 30 - 7:38 pmtraded in my 08 Tahoe because having alot of problems with it. Thought the Traverse looked cool, but the only seat that is comfortable is the drivers seat and gas mileage thus far has been well below advertised, 12-14 mpg in city. I see others say they get better mpg, so hopefully it will get better over time.
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So far so good! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
By Johnny Thunders - December 7 - 7:43 amIm very tall (nearing 7) so its hard to find a vehicle that just plain fits; other bells and whistles are a secondary concern. The Traverse is not only comfortable for me but offers incredible passenger room and storage capacity. Lots of great/thoughtful design choices in the cabin. Front seats are the most comfortable in the crossover class by a mile. Ive been impressed by how well the A/C system heats/cools the large space, as well as how good the Bose speakers sound. The drive is superb: quiet, powerful, smooth. This should be high on the list for anyone in the SUV/crossover/minivan market. Its been years since Ive had a GM, but the Traverse might well have brought me back for good.
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Nice improvement, but drivers seat is lacking - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
By Ligor - June 4 - 1:17 pmThe car is improved in all but one criteria - where the old drivers seat (and also the passengers) was hard it was still good for long distance, the new one is softer and feels more comfortable until you are in it for more than 15 minutes. thats when it becomes apparent that the bottom cushion is now way short, and the bottom cushion side thigh support have been cut even shorter. my right foot got tired in 15 minutes - this is the same reason why i got rid of my Malibu after just 4 months. I could easily pay another $500 just to have Chevy make a better bottom cushion (Chevy if you need help go to Nissan and get theirs straight from the Altima). with 3 kids i need something this size, and the seat is a deal breaker - we will not be replacing tour 2016 Traverse with the new one sadly (unless GM fixes this quickly).
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could be better - 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
By Laura - August 22 - 5:05 am2016 Traverse has the most uncomfortable seats ever. Granted I have a basic model but cmon... lumbar support is important. My manual says its optional. If its a manual seat it should be on all cars. We have the split bench in 2nd row. The seat belts are down right painful for adults butts. Behind the driver seat you cannot move where the belt buckles in. There is zero give. You CAN move the buckle on the passenger side so its not digging into your backside but not in the driver side. this needs to be addressed. Also I am not a fan of not having outside mirror defrosters. My 03 trailblazer LS had this option and it was a base model. Not understanding why its not in a 16 when its a safety necessity in my opinion. Cargo room is HUGE!! I love how much room I have in here. The stereo system is really nice. There is bluetooth but for whatever reason I cannot play music from my phone or iPod through the speakers. Defeats the purpose of bluetooth no? Lastly the gas mileage is awful. Maybe its the AWD idk but i go through gas faster on this 16 car than with my old 03 that had 225,000. miles on it. No way shld a new car that has a 22 gallon tank only get 250 miles to a tank.
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lots of room in a user friendly package - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
By Tom - September 30 - 3:17 pmAmazing volume inside, room for everything. Very comfortable ride, responsive especially considering the size of the vehicle. Good steering, brakes. Found transmission very effective, did not jump gears too much on twisting holy back road lanes. Engine has solid power, moves the vehicle with good authority.Handled bumps large and small with aplomb. Seats comfy, start stop feature presented no difficulties or balkiness. Wife commented that the car drove a lot smaller than its size.
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Positives outweigh negatives - 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
By Richinbk - January 5 - 5:07 pmI got a very basic model so theres nothing too impressive to mention except that the truck is roomy in all directions, rides very well and looks good. My only major complaint would be poor fuel mileage. Sticker claims i should be getting 19 city and 24 highway. Im actually getting about 12 or 13 mpg city and jury is out on highway mileage since I do mostly city driving. I have AWD so maybe thats the culprit. Otherwise, so far so good. Cant wait to take it on a nice road trip.
